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Weld County residents discuss secession from Colorado

By Adrian D. GarciaThe Denver Post

Posted:
07/29/2013 07:43:52 PM MDT

Updated:
07/30/2013 09:16:54 AM MDT

Weld County Commissioners Bill Garcia, left, and Barbara Kirkmeyer listen to public comment about the idea of creating a new state on Monday, July 29, 2013 at the Southwest Weld Complex east of Longmont.
(Times-Call | Greg Lindstrom)

WELD COUNTY — Weld County residents said they were ready for a major fight Monday evening. Whether that battle is to secede from Colorado or to change representation, all they want is to be heard and to win respect.

The nearly 70 people in attendance were participating in the second public meeting Weld County commissioners have hosted to discuss whether their constituents felt a disconnect and wanted to pursue change.

Every person who spoke agreed there is a disconnect between the needs of rural voters and the laws and policies being passed at the state legislature.

"If you're going to start walking on the people that give the government power, then they're going to start taking that power back," Travis Showalter of Frederick said.

Boulder County resident Denny Zimmerer, in hat, and others raise their hands, agreeing there is a disconnect between the policies being passed at the state legislature and the needs of rural voters, as the Weld County Board of Commissioners hear public comment about the idea of creating a new state on Monday, July 29, 2013 at the Southwest Weld Complex east of Longmont.
(Times-Call | Greg Lindstrom)

Most commissioners from the 10 counties who attended a 51st State initiative meeting July 8 shifted their support to the new plan suggested by Phillips County Administrator Randy Schafer.

Schafer suggested changing representation in the state Senate or House so that each county would have the same number of representatives. Currently, representation is based on populations.

However, most who spoke at the meeting decided they want the commissioners to pursue seceding from Colorado.

Sparrow pointed to laws passed during the last legislative session, such as the passage of gun control laws and renewable energy standards created by SB 252. Rural voters are also angered that voters passed Amendment 64 that OK'd recreational marijuana, the measure failed in many counties that wish to secede.

Attendees of Thursday's public meeting held in Fort Lupton expressed similar concerns and asked commissioners to pursue creating a 51st state.

"They feel like there are other circumstances where minorities are protected and they're probably looking for something like that," said Chip Taylor, executive director of Colorado Counties Inc. "They are concerned about real bona fide issues."

Weld County Commissioner Barbara Kirkmeyer admitted that the road to actual secession will be a bumpy one. The last state to successfully do so was West Virginia in 1863, according to Kirkmeyer, who was joined by her fellow commissioners, except for Mike Freeman.

To actually secede, Weld County would have to put that option before its own voters, then get measures approved at the state and federal levels.

Commissioner Sean Conway, who originally supported the plan to secede, opted to support the other proposal instead.

Conway, who is also general government chairman for CCI, plans to have the association make the Phillips County proposal a legislative priority during a September meeting, he said.

"I'm supporting it and pushing it. I think the Phillips County proposal makes a lot of sense," Conway said.

If he is successful and CCI votes to make the proposal a priority, the group will seek bipartisan sponsorship and introduce it as a bill at the beginning of the 2014 legislative session in January.

Conway and the other four Weld County commissioners attended the two public meetings. Two more discussions are scheduled, one Tuesday in Evans and another Wednesday in Ault.

Correction: This article has been updated in this online archive. An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported the Colorado legislature involvement with the passage of Amendment 64. The measure to legalize recreational use of marijuana was passed by voters.

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